Review of A Face in the Crowd (1957) by Anna L — 14 Jan 2011

Though this was familiar territory for Elia Kazan, Andy Griffith would never again reach this kind of dramatic intensity in his career- and it remains his most interesting and stunning achievement. It's one of those rare performances that stands apart not only from the film but from any other performance, a totally unique artistic rendering that no actor could-then or ever again- match.

It's a perfect marriage of player and part and it's exhilaration to watch. The film actually boasts several underrated performances, the other two being those done by Walter Matthau and Patricia Neal, both of which are powerful because they start subtlety and end explosively- and all the while they remain wholly human in natural.

The story itself allows for these achievements because it dares to be serious with a subject other films only have the gall to handle with humor. The plot goes from startling to downright frightening and never backs away from its target, yet there is no tangible enemy here.

..only the universal tragedy that is fame, a beast too ferocious to be tamed by a human being.